Firearms target system

ABSTRACT

A firearms target system may be configured with at least a panel separated from a source with the panel consisting of at least one rotating mechanism, a target, and a shield. The one rotating mechanism can be configured to change the target relative to the shield in response to a prompt from a user.

SUMMARY

A firearms target system, in accordance with assorted embodiments, has a panel separated from a source with the panel consisting of at least one rotating mechanism, a target, and a shield. The one rotating mechanism is configured to change the target relative to the shield in response to a prompt from a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block representation of an example firearms target system arranged in accordance with assorted embodiments.

FIGS. 2A-2C respectively display different line representation views of an example firearms target system configured in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example firearms target practice routine that may be carried out in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Firearms can be effective weapons when properly calibrated and operated. A user can gain experience calibrating and operating a firearm by firing at a target. However, targets can degrade over time and through use so that replacement is necessary. Such target replacement can be dangerous and inefficient as a user manually removes one target and installs a second target, which may involve time-consuming walking and/or moving the target. Hence, there is a practical goal of providing an automated target replacement system to increase safety and efficiency of firearms shooting.

Accordingly, various embodiments are directed to providing the ability to present new targets by remote control from a shooter's position. A panel assembly can be positioned down range from a shooter and allow firearms to be calibrated, such as sighting-in a rifle, and operated, such as target practice, by detecting where a projectile bullet has contacted the target. The remote and automated replacement of a target is safer than the shooter walking down range and more efficient than waiting for a target to travel to the shooter from down range.

While not required or limiting, a panel assembly can consist of continuous roll of paper targets at predetermined increments so that, upon prompting by a user, a rotating mechanism cycles to replace a first target facing the user with a second target. The panel assembly can further comprise one or more shields that partially or completely surround the target facing the user and the rotating mechanism may cycle between different targets while the panel remains separated and down range from the user. That is, the panel assembly can be physically separated from the user without wires, cords, or tethers continuously extending from down range to the target.

Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 displays a block representation of an example target system 100 arranged in accordance with various embodiments to allow automated replacement of a target. The target system 100 can have one or more panel assemblies 102 electronically connected to a source shooting station 104. Each panel assembly 102 has a local controller 106 that directs operation of at least one rotating mechanism 108 to cycle from one target 110 to another. The local controller 106 can be continuously or sporadically connected to the source shooting station 104 via a communications circuit 112 that can communicate via individual, concurrent, and/or redundant signals, such as radio, cellular, and broadband data signals.

A panel assembly 102 has at least one shield 114 that remains stationary proximal a target 110 exposed to a user to signal when a projectile has slightly missed the target 110. The shield 114 may further provide down range protection and be constructed of materials configured to stop projectile bullets of a variety of different calibers and speeds, such as .17-.50 cal. and 1-5000 fl/sec. It is contemplated that the shield 114 is shaped to be planar, curvilinear, or a combination of the two. The shield 114 may be solid, hollow, and/or constructed of multiple different materials to ensure projectiles do not pass through the shield 114.

In some embodiments, the rotating mechanism 108 is an electric motor that articulates a continuous roll of multiple targets while the shield 114 remains stationary. The rotating mechanism 108 may also be pneumatic or internal-combustion powered. The rotating mechanism 108 may operate independent of one or more sensors 116, such as proximity, optic, pressure, or vibration sensors, which can detect where and how a projectile bullet contacts the target 110. The local controller 104 may log and transmit the detected bullet/target contact location to the user via the communications circuit 112. Such detected contact locations can be audibly and/or visually indicated to a user, such as via a screen or graphical user interface.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C respectively illustrate line representations of portions of an example target system 120 that is configured in accordance with some embodiments to provide projectile feedback to a user while the target panel 102 and user remain stationary and separated by a predetermined distance 122, such as 100 meters. FIG. 2A show a wireless signal 124 and bullet projectile path 126 also span the predetermined distance 122 between the target panel 102 and shooter station 104. It is noted that the predetermined distance 122 can be manually or artificially altered to that a user can shoot at to a variety of different locations.

In the cross-sectional view of the target panel 102 in FIG. 2B, a rotating mechanism 108 is positioned between actuators 132 that are individually and/or collectively activated to remove a first target 110 from display to a user and subsequently replacing a second target 110 in an aperture 134 of the shield 114, as shown in FIG. 2C. As a non-limiting example, a plurality of targets 110 can be interconnected and stretched between the respective actuators 132 to allow the rotating mechanism 108 to pass targets 110 from one actuator 132 to the other. The path of the continuous roll of targets 110 between actuators 132 can be configured to pass in front of one or more sensors 116, which may be attached to a solid, or hollow, plate to allow detection of where and how bullet projectiles contact the target 110.

The shield 114 can be arranged in an unlimited variety of manners to present one, or more, targets 110 to a user located at the shooter station 104. FIG. 2C displays a non-limiting example of how the shield 114 can be a continuous plate 136 that is shaped with varying widths along the X axis. It is contemplated that the shield 114 partially surrounds the aperture 134 and/or comprises more than one piece and/or material, such as AR500 steel, which may be configured as at least one raised and cantilevered projections from the shield 114 that cover the inner workings of the panel assembly 102, such as the rotating mechanism 108. The ability to tune the configuration of the shield 114 and target aperture 134 with different shapes, materials, and sizes can optimize visual acuity and shooting feedback for a user.

In accordance with some embodiments, the target 110 is part of a continuous roll of multiple targets consisting of a penetrable material, such as paper, reinforced by at least one support structure. String, paper, gel, glue, and metal may be attached individually and collectively to a target to maintain the shape and presentation of the target despite multiple bullets penetrating the target. It is contemplated that a support structure is integrated into a continuous roll of targets or is moved into position by the panel assembly after a number of bullets have penetrated the target.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an example firearms target practice routine 200 that can be executed in accordance with assorted embodiments. Initially, the routine 200 electrically connects a source shooting station with a target panel assembly positioned down range. The electrical connection may be established and maintained via a wired and/or wireless signal pathway that may be secured, such as a Bluetooth encrypted wireless signal. The shooting station may be any separated distance from the target panel, which can change at will by activating a panel movement mechanism.

With the electrical connection formed between the target panel and the shooting station, step 204 proceeds to prompt the panel assembly to change a first target to a second target while the shield and panel assembly, as a whole, remain stationary. In some embodiments, the prompting of step 204 is triggered by a payment by a user, such as a coin-operated activation switch or online debit. The prompted signal from step 204 initiates step 206 to activate at least the rotating mechanism of the target panel assembly to cycle the first target to a different second target without the shield portion of the panel assembly moving relative to the shooting station.

Next, step 208 shoots one or more bullet projectiles towards the target panel assembly. At least one bullet is then detected as contacting the target of the panel assembly in step 210. It is noted that such bullet-target contact can be detected by one or more sensors that may be similar, or dissimilar types. For instance, optical and acoustic sensors may concurrently or sequentially operate to detect the location and speed of a bullet passing through a target, which can be relayed to the shooting station in step 212. Various embodiments conduct step 212 after analyzing the bullet speed and target contact location with the target panel controller to predict firearm operation and/or calibration changes that can be executed to improve shooting accuracy.

While any number of bullets can be shot to a target over time, decision 214 continually, randomly, or sporadically evaluates if a new target is to be provided by the target panel assembly. If a new target is needed, prompted by the user, or cued based on the expiration of a time threshold, step 216 prompts the rotating assembly of the target panel assembly to cycle to a new, different target to be displayed within a target aperture of a shield. At the conclusion of step 216, or in the event no new target is called for by decision 214, step 216 executes at least one target analysis algorithm to predict the calibration and operation corrections that can be performed by a user to optimize accuracy.

Although the steps and decision of routine 200 can be performed any number of times, the various aspects of the routine 200 are not limited and can be amended at will. That is, the existing aspects of routine 200 can be changed or removed just as additional steps and decisions can be incorporated. As a non-limiting example, one or more additional steps can communicate the analysis from step 216 to a user via a generated video, diagram, or audible command.

Through the assorted embodiments of the present disclosure, a target panel assembly can increase safety, efficiency, and enjoyment of firearms shooting. The ability to automatically replace a target while the panel assembly remains down range prevents a user from walking or the target from traveling up range to the user. The increased sophistication of a target panel assembly allows bullet/target contact to the detected and analyzed, which may be difficult in long-range shooting scenarios of 1000 feet or more. 

1. An apparatus comprising a panel separated from a source, the panel comprising at least one rotating mechanism, a target, and a shield, the at least one rotating mechanism configured to change the target relative to the shield in response to a prompt from a user.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotating mechanism comprises a belt.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotating mechanism comprises a chain.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotating mechanism is connected to first and second actuators, each actuator supporting the target.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the target comprises a continuous strip of material extending between two actuators.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shield comprises a steel material and defines a target aperture.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the panel comprises a local controller adapted to activate the rotating mechanism to change the target.
 8. An apparatus comprising a panel separated from a source, the panel comprising at least one rotating mechanism, a target, a shield, and at least one sensor, the at least one rotating mechanism configured to change the target relative to the shield in response to a prompt from a user and the at least one sensor configured to detect a location where a projectile contacts the target.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor detects a speed with which the projectile passes through the target.
 10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the target comprises at least one support structure.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the support structure comprises a different material than the target and is attached to the target.
 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein first and second sensors concurrently detect the projectile contacting the target.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first and second sensors are different types of sensors.
 14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the prompt from the user is provided to a panel controller via a wireless signal.
 15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned between the target and the rotating mechanism.
 16. A method comprising: positioning a panel separated from a source, the panel comprising at least one rotating mechanism, at least one target, and a shield; prompting the panel to change a first target to a second target; and changing the target relative to the shield with the at least one rotating mechanism in response to the prompting from a user.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one sensor detects a location where a projectile contacts the target.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein a panel controller analyzes the location of the projectile to predict a firearm calibration to improve accuracy.
 19. The method of claim 17, wherein a panel controller analyzes the location of the projectile to predict a firearm operation to improve accuracy.
 20. The method of claim 17, wherein a panel controller communicates the detected location to the user via a screen positioned at the source. 